The Senate Minority Leader and representative of the Abia-South Senatorial District Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, has given reasons as to why he withdrew his sponsored Armed Forces Commission Bill.
According to Abaribe, his withdrawal was in adherence to the advice given by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, as well as to enable further consultations on the bill.
“First, Mr. President, in order to preserve the dignity of this hallowed chamber, I wish to withdraw my Order 73.
“Second, and for us to be able to do further consultations on the bill that I have proposed, I wish also to step down the consideration of this bill until a more appropriate time,” he said.
The proposed bill titled, “A bill for an Act to give effect to Section 219 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of the Armed Forces Service Commission and for other related matters, 2021”, had recently passed first reading, but was thrown out by the Senate President after a voice vote.
Thus, Sen. Abaribe was prompted to invoke Order 73 of the Senate Standing Rules which would have made Senators take a stand, whether in support or against the bill in the open.
Lawan said after a closed door meeting that the Senate had “appealed” to Abaribe to withdraw his motion to invoke Order 73, as there was still an opportunity for Abaribe, who is the Senate Minority Leader, to represent the bill after due consultations with his colleagues.
The bill seeks to establish the Armed Forces Service Commission to ensure that the composition/appointment of Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federation, reflects Federal Character of Nigeria in the manner prescribed in Section 217 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
Some APC Senators including Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Abdullahi Adamu, Adamu Aliero and Mohammed Bulkachuwa kicked against the bill, while their PDP counterparts, Emmanuel Bwacha, Chukwuka Utazi and James Manager, supported it.
